Many of us have been stuck at home for the longest time (2 years and five months to be exact!). And if you’re like me, you may be restless to have even just a little bit of vacation time. Well, the good news is that it is now easier to plan a holiday with your family.
Just this April 2022, UK residents have done and spent 20 times more on overseas travel than in the same month last year (ONS, 2022). This may be because many countries worldwide have lifted their Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions, making it attractive for people to travel locally and internationally.
If we continue this momentum, we can expect the global travel industry to fully recover and reach pre-pandemic levels by 2025 (GlobalData, 2022).
Whether you’re planning to travel out of the country or just out of town, here are five tips to make your next family holiday the best one yet.
1. Prepare the travel requirements
If you’re traveling abroad, this step is the most crucial. Make sure that everyone in the family (even the kids), has a passport that is active for at least the next six months.
Also check if your destination requires a visa, and prepare for it ahead of time.
Although many areas are loosening Covid-19 restrictions, a lot still require Covid-19 documents such as proof of vaccination and PCR test to be submitted before entering. To know more about these requirements, check out this complete guide from the UK Government.
C. Select the right luggage
After ensuring all travel requirements are in order, including passports, visas, and COVID-19 documentation, the next step is to consider how best to pack for your trip.
Considering the often changing travel restrictions and the variety of needs you might encounter, choose the right sized luggage. For instance, the hardshell extra large suitcase is perfect for making sure you have everything you might need, giving you plenty of space for essentials and even some extra items like souvenirs. Plus, its sturdy build helps keep your things safe during travel. However, when comparing it to medium-sized luggage, the extra-large option is definitely more suitable for family vacations where a medium suitcase might just be too small to fit everything. Medium-sized luggage, on the other hand, could be more practical for solo travelers or short trips, offering enough space for your needs without being overly bulky, making it easier to handle and move around.
2. Have a plan
If you want to maximize your vacation, you need to have a game plan. This means creating an itinerary for each day, including what attractions to visit and where to eat.
Look at online reviews to discover local attractions and restaurants. Maybe you can even find discounts and coupons online! You will lessen your risk of getting overcharged and wasting time if you plan ahead.
Bonus tip: Do not over schedule. Give enough flexibility for travel and downtime.
3. Set your budget and stick to it.
One of the common mistakes vacationers make is to create unrealistic budgets. To avoid this mistake, research online the general costs of things like accommodations, transportation, food, and attractions. From there, build a budget for each expense and make adjustments to your itinerary and game plan accordingly.
It is recommended you add at least 10% of your budget as a safety net. Although you don’t want surprise expenses during your holiday, you certainly don’t want to be insufficient of funds if caught in one.
4. Figure out how to get there.
Where are you going? Is it abroad or just out of town?
When deciding on your transportation, consider your budget and the distance of your destination. If it is out of town, it may be possible to rent a car or even use your own car. If it is out of the country, take advantage of booking discounts and coupons.
In considering what mode of travel to use, figure out the cost of each and see which is the cheapest while still giving the convenience you want. Saving each extra penny will go a long way.
One of the hidden hassles to take note of while traveling is finding parking spaces at airports. Not only could they be hard to find but they are also usually unreasonably expensive.
To minimize the stress and expenses, you may want to consider off-site parking. They are cheaper and often offer more services like valet parking, car wash and check-ups, luggage help, and many more!
If you want to know more about off-site parking near airports, check out https://parkos.co.uk They are a great place to compare parking prices and perks so that you can travel on your holiday with less stress.
5. Limit devices and make memories together.
To ensure more quality time together, limit the usage of devices. Smartphones may be important in navigating through a foreign place, but they can also be great distractions and time wasters.
Implement a rule with all family members to only use devices for important matters like using online maps and checking the itinerary.
At the end of the day, you and your family are on holiday to rest and relax together. Plan everything beforehand, but on your holiday, don’t stress about the small stuff. Have fun!
*collaborative post*